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Hockey tests Senate crossbench support

Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer

Crossbench senators continue to pressure the Abbott government to withdraw or revise some of its controversial budget measures.

Treasurer Joe Hockey met with Liberal Democrats' senator David Leyonhjelm on Monday as he continued a round of talks with the MPs ahead of federal parliament sitting later this month.

Senator Leyonhjelm later told AAP he got the feeling the 11-month-old government was still getting used to having to negotiate.

"I pointed out that if the situation was reversed and it was Labor in government needing our votes I would have 25 (ALP senators) new best friends," Senator Leyonhjelm said.

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"He (Mr Hockey) laughed at that and said 'that's true. We are not very good at that thing'."

Senator Leyonhjelm said he had no problem with the depth of the budget expenditure cuts, saying they could have gone further.

When he suggested this to the treasurer, Mr Hockey "smiled a little bit because I think he probably agrees with me", the senator said.

The Liberal Democrat, who opposes new levies on business, has proposed the mining tax legislation be split into separate spending and revenue bills for debate and complains Clive Palmer's Palmer United Party (PUP) and the Australian Greens were holding up progress.

"It is Clive's tax, he has retained it," the senator said.

As well, a proposed $7 GP visit co-payment could be made more palatable if it was offset by a cut in the co-payment for pharmaceuticals and the revenue did not go to a medical research fund.

While Mr Hockey and the senator did not discuss a delay to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's signature paid parental leave scheme, its financial impact was discussed the treasurer saying it would be "cost-neutral".

Senator Leyonhjelm believes the focus - the scheme is expected to cost about $4 billion a year and be partly funded by a levy on big corporations - should be on childcare services.